Woman Thought It Would Be ‘Cruel’ to Not Let Her Cat Roam Free. Then He Almost Lost an Eye

A fluffy cat resting in a woman’s arms (stock image)Credit: Getty

Kylie, a cat owner, thought it would be “cruel” to keep her cat Obi inside so she let him roam free— but she now regrets her decision after a fight with another feline nearly cost him an eye

Kylie said the injury resulted in over $1,000 in vet bills and weeks of intensive treatment

She has since installed an enclosed outdoor “catio” for her three cats, allowing them to safely enjoy the outdoors while giving her peace of mind

A cat owner is warning others about the dangers of letting their pets wander freely after her beloved feline nearly lost an eye.

Kylie, of New South Wales, Australia, had always kept her cats indoors, according to nine.com.au. However, she said she made an exception when she took in Obi, a 6-year-old cat that previously belonged to a neighbor.

She said the feline was used to being an indoor/outdoor cat and was able to explore the neighborhood.

“In my mind I’m like, ‘Oh well, he doesn’t go far, and he’s used to it, and it’d be really cruel and mean if I just kept him in the backyard all day because he’s not used to it, and he’s six years old,’ ” she said.

But her perspective changed dramatically when Obi was injured during a confrontation with another cat.

The encounter left him with a serious scratch on his eye that required specialist veterinary care and nearly cost him his vision.

According to Kylie, treating the injury resulted in over $1,000 in veterinary expenses, along with hundreds more for medications.

Obi’s recovery also required a demanding treatment schedule, including multiple types of eye drops administered several times each day.

“The poor darling … He was so good, but to have to put him through what he went through ... 20 drops a day for a week or two, and then it got better, so we could back it off a bit,” Kylie told the outlet.

The cat also needed follow-up appointments with an ophthalmologist every seven days for approximately three weeks.

For Kylie, who had to rearrange her work schedule to accommodate the appointments, the experience was both emotionally and financially draining.

“So then having to take time off work, which of course I don’t mind, but it’s bloody stressful,” she recalled. “I’m like, Jesus Christ, [letting him roam is] not worth it ... this cat, he doesn’t deserve this.”

Obi’s experience is an example of the dangers facing cats that are allowed to wander outside without supervision.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New South Wales (RSPCA NSW) has been encouraging pet owners to reconsider allowing their cats to roam through its Keeping Cats Safe at Home campaign.

According to Dr. Gemma Ma, the society’s campaign manager, Kylie’s experience is not unique, adding that many cat owners don’t fully appreciate the dangers of letting their cats roam free until a traumatic incident occurs.

“We find most of the time when people have changed their mind it’s because something really bad has happened,” Ma told nine.com.au, citing incidents involving cars, broken bones and expensive veterinary treatments.

However, the organization says cat owners don’t have to eliminate outdoor time entirely to protect their pets. Instead, it recommends supervised outdoor activities, secure fencing and enclosed spaces that allow cats to enjoy fresh air without freely accessing the neighborhood.

That’s the approach Kylie ultimately adopted.

Following Obi’s injury, she installed a “catio” — an enclosed outdoor space designed specifically for cats — that allows Obi and her two other cats to spend time outside safely.

The change has been a success.

“That really helped the transition enormously because my three cats — every morning now — we have our routine, I get up, they get up, I feed them, and then I walk to the front room,” she told nine.com.au.

“As I’m walking in the front room, they all converge and sit at the front sliding door because they’re like, ‘Okay, let’s go out now! Yay!’ “ she added. “They love it so much, and they’re content. They’re happy, they’re calm — everything. It made a massive difference.”

And after the ordeal with Obi, the new setup has provided Kylie with some much-needed peace of mind.

“I have a calmer heart,” she said.

Source: Nature